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COMMITTEE ON TOWN SEAL 



Report of the Committee 



NAMING THE STREETS OF CHNTON. 




CANTON: 

1' R I N T E D BY WILLIAM B E N S E , 
iSSi. 



H 



D 



t....: 



COMMITTEE ON TO¥N SEAL 



Report of the Committee 



mmm the streets of canton. 




CANTON: 

I'RINTED BY WILLIAM DENSE, 
iSSi. 



0. 01 0, 




The Committee appointed by the Town of Canton 
at its annual meeting in April, 1880, to prepare a 
suitable design for a corporate seal of the Town, 
have attended to that duty, and present for the 
consideration of its citizens the following 

REPORT. 

TT appears that shortly after the Norman Conquest, 
the use of seals became common, in consequence 
of their presence being required to give validity to 
every species of legal document. They were en- 
graved with some design which was peculiar to their 
owner, and was presumed to refer to some real or 
supposed service. From this custom, seals for cities 
and towns originated. 

In this country, we are at liberty to adopt any design 
for a seal, and many towns represent on their seals 
some incident of their early history or subsequent 



4 
development. Your Committee were at first disposed 
to represent on the town seal some event connected 
with Canton history, such as " Eliot preaching to the 
Indians at Ponkipog." "An incident in the life of 
Gridley." "A picture of the Doty Tavern." " The 
Ride of Paul Revere." "Roger Sherman signing the 
Declaration of Independence," or "A View of the 
Viaduct ; " but they decided that it was impossible to 
represent in proper proportion, in the space usually 
alloted to a seal, the picture of any event. If the 
seal was to be painted upon the walls of the Town 
Hall, a picture might be represented to advantage, 
but when reduced to the size of a newspaper column, 
at the head of the town warrant, it would be impos- 
sible to distinguish the design. 

Your Committee have therefore decided to follow 
the principles and laws which governed the designing 
of seals in ancient days, and have looked to the sci- 
ence of Heraldry for information, — a symbolical and 
pictorial language, in which figures, devices and 
color are employed, instead of letters. They have 
devised a seal which shall rei)resent, when properly 
understood, the History of Canton, the designs upon 
which can be clearly distinguished. 

In 1866, — four y(!ars before she breathed her last, 
— our m()tht;r, or more properly speaking, our grand- 
mother town, Dorchester, settled in 1630, adopted a 



5 
seal, and for a crest, took the triple-towered castle, 
"in respectful memory" they say "of Dorchester in 
old England, on whose seal this is the principal 
charge," and from which town the early settlers of 
Dorchester, in New England, immigrated. 

The town of Dorchester has condescended to be 
merged in Boston, and her seal is covered with rust. 
Your Committee have, in respectful memory of 
Dorchester in New England, adopted this triple- 
towered castle as the crest of our town seal, because 
we were from 1630 until 1726, a part of Dorchester, 
and many of the early settlers of our town came 
from there. 

In 1726 our town received the name of Stoughton, 
a name highly to be prized. It was so desig- 
nated in honor of Lieutenant Governor William 
Stoughton, whose remains lie in the old Dorchester 
Burying Ground. Our town is the original Stough- 
ton, and never should have relinquished its birthright. 
Your Committee have adopted and placed upon the 
shield of our town seal, the arms that are engraved 
upon his tomb-stone and stamped upon his will.""' 

It was also a custom in ancient days to choose a 
device for a shield, which should be connected in 
some way with the name of the bearer; this was 

* These arms are described in heraldry as follows : " Ar. on a saltire gii.* 
between four door staples sable, an escallop, or." 



6 

called "canting-" heraldry. A division of a shield, 
smaller than a quarter, usually the right, formed by 
a perpendicular line from the top of the shield meet- 
ing a horizontal line from the side, is called a can- 
ton, and your Committee have adopted this allusive 
custom of old, and placed on the shield a canton, 
alluding to the nanie of the town. 

On the border which surrounds the shield we have 
placed the word "Ponkipog," and spelled it as John 
Eliot spelled it, which was the name the Indians 
called the territory we now call Canton ; and the date 
" 1650," at which we find the earliest mention of it. 

On the opposite side we have placed the present 
name of our town, "Canton," and the date " 1797," 
when it received its Act of Incorporation, signed by 
Samuel Adams. 

All of zj hick is respectfully sitbniitted. 

f Daniel T. Y. Huntoon, 

I 
Conini2tteey\ Elijah A. Morse, 

(r. ^^^\LTER Capen. 



Under Article stli oftlie warrant for Town Meeting, April 4, iSSi : 
VoTKD, — That tlie report of the Committee on Town Seal be accepted 
and the design adopted as the Seal of the Town of Canton. 

Attest, WALTER AMES. 

TOWX Cl.RRK. 



Report of Committee on Streets. 



I N D E X 



Ahawton, 15 
*Back, II 

Badlam, 23 

Beaumont, 24 

Beaver Brook, 18 
*Blue Hill, 12 
*Bolivar, 13 
*Cedar, 13 

Chapel, 29 
♦Chestnut, 14 

Church, 26 

Crane, 24 

Cross, 26 

Danforth, 24 
*Dedham, 13 

Depot, 29 

Downes, John, 25 

Dunbar, 2^ 

Eliot, John, 25 

Endicott, 26 
*I'"anns, 14 



*Green, 15 

Green Lodge, 16 

Gridley, Richard, 26 

Hartwell, 26 
♦High, 16 

Indian Lane. 21 

Kinslej', Lyman, 27 

Kitchamakin, 27 

Mashapog, 27 

Mathew, Father, 27 

Mechanics Court, 27 
*Neponset, 17-20 

Norfolk, 28 

Norwood, 17 

Packeen, 12 
*Pecunit, 17 

Pequit, 28 
*Pine, 18 
♦Pleasant, 18 

C^iocheco, 13 
♦Rail Road, 19 



♦Randolph, 20 

Revere, Paul, 28 

Rockland Ave., 30 

Royall, 2^ 

Sassamon, 28 

Sharon, 17 

Sherman, Roger, 29 
♦South, 20 
♦Spring Lane, 21 

Spring Hill St. 28 

Steep Brook, 22 

St. John's, 29 

Stoughtoti, 19 
♦Turnpike, 21 

Walnut, ^2 

Walpole, 14 
♦Washington, 21 

Wentworth, John, 29 
♦West, 22 
♦Wood Lane, 22 
♦York, 23 



Named in 1840. 



REPORT. 



The Committee appointed by tlie Town of Canton at the annual 
meeting in April, iSSo, to take into consideration the naming of 
streets, have given careful attention to the matter, and as the re- 
sult of their deliberations submit the following 

REPORT. 

I ?ROM the first settlement of the town no attempt was made to 
-'- give to our roads any name, save those that led out of town ; 
they were designated by the name of the town toward which thev 
ran ; but in 1S40 it was deemed expedient to give names to all the 
streets ; — accordingly a Committee was appointed to select names. 
This committee consisted of Joseph Downes, Frederic Walker 
Lincoln, Isaac Horton, Simeon Presbrey, Elisha White, 
Horace Guild, and Elijah Tucker, none of whom are now 
living. The report of this committee assigned to all the streets 
then existing, names, of which the greater number were appro- 
priate ; such, the present committee do not propose to change. 
There were other streets, which, for want of sufiicient time, 
thought, or information, received common place names, such as 
the name of a color or of a tree. 



lO 

Your present Committee believe that the naming of streets is a 
matter of great importance, not to be left to accident or to be 
rushed through with, in order to be got rid of, but that in giving 
names to streets, judgment should be used, certain rules followed, 
and certain objects secured. 

An eminent French author says : " The history of the names of 
streets belong to the history of the town, they often recall the peri- 
ods of enlargement and decoration ; their names are a sort of mon- 
ument of the history of manners and civilization." Again, Mr. 
James Freeman Clarke, in his admirable pamphlet lately pub- 
lished on this subject, says, " The names of streets should not be 
selected merely for their pretty sound, but as memorials of the 
past. We shall thus be doing only simple justice to the past ; we 
shall awaken in the minds of strangers and our own people the 
memories of great men and great deeds." With such reminders 
around us, life becomes more attractive. Canton has a history, let 
us do our best to perpetuate it. 

The committee have therefore decided, that they will give to the 
streets in all cases where it is possible, names historically con- 
nected with Canton. 

Also, that main roads leading from Canton direct to another town, 
shall be designated by the name of the town towards which said 
road leads. This was the custom previous to 1S40. Chestnut 
street was the Walpole Road. Pleasant street was the Stoughton 
Road. By this method valuable information was conveyed to the 
traveller, the name of the street indicating its destination. The 
committee propose to return to the old fashioned plan, and sacri- 
fice a pretty name, that the travelling public may be more readily 
guided. That as far as a street extends in a straight or nearly 
straight line, it shall have but one name. 

That the committee on naming the streets ought to have control 
of the lettering and placing of all guide-boards whether on posts 
or lanterns, that private ways over which the public travel should 
be named by the town, in view of their eventually becoming pub- 
lic streets, and to prevent their receiving trivial or ridiculous 
names. That every ten years a committee ought to be chosen to 
name new streets, and not allow the matter to be overlooked for 
fortv years. 



The Indian names, which are liard to pronounce, and yet ought 
to be preserved, have in most instances been given to streets that 
at present have few, if any, houses upon them. 

Let us now consider, in alphabetical order, the names given to 
the streets by the committee of 1S40. 

Back Street. 

Few persons are aware that from near the northern 
termination of Pecunit street, there is a deserted highway which 
runs parallel to Back street, and crosses Ponkipog brook 
by a picturesque stone bridge, — ^just back of the residence of Mr. 
Coombs on Green street. This road was used soon after the first 
settlement of our town, but it was not laid out until 1 741, — "■It 
was described subsequently as the old road from Henry Bailey's to 
where Edward Shale formerly lived." 

In 1798 the old road was discontinued and Back street as it runs 
to-day was laid out, and called the "new road by Captain Jordan's." 
It. would appear that Gen. Nathan Crane laid claim to the ancient 
road on account of work done on the new ; the town did not convey 
the disused road to him, but allowed him to erect two gates upon it. 

In 1S40 this road then called " the road leading from Lemuel 
Taunt's by Ebenezer Turner's" was designated "Back Street." 
The committee deem this name bad, beyond description ; one 
street in our town is no more back than another, and no citizen 
can feel proud to give his place of residence as on " Back street." 
In seeking a new and appropriate name for this street the question 
naturally presents itself to your committee, what are the historical 
associations connected with the territory through which Back street 
runs. 

Within the memory of the oldest person in Canton, and long 
before, this territory has been called by its Indian name, a name 
which has been connected with our town nearly two hundred 
years, — a name older than the earliest record on our earliest book. 
It was originally applied by the Indians to the plain at Canton 
Corner, but when in the march of progress the centre of the town 
became " Dorchester New Village," the old name was gradually 
and imperceptibly transferred from its original locality to the 
westerly part of the tow^n. On this road, near the brook, stood 



the old school house which was always known as the " Packeen 
School." When the present road leading to Dedham was built, 
the point where it connected with Wheeler's Lane (now the junc- 
tion of Back and Dedham streets,) was called Packeen, and the 
road is recorded on the surveyor's lists of that time as " the road 
leading from Packeen to Dedham." Again on April 4, 1S03, ^^""^ 
town records assert that petitioners solicited the selectmen " to 
view the way" and " prayed for a road leading from the Packeen 
road (so called) through the land of Nathaniel French to the 
Taunton Road." We are informed by one of the descendants of 
the Ponkipog Indians, that his father and grandfather called this 
road the Packeen road, and he never heard any other name given 
to it. Mr. Elihu Wentworth, now over eighty years of age, has 
always heard this road called " The Packeen Road." 

Mr. Clarke says: " Names which are picturesque, which have 
a pleasant sound and pleasant associations, are in good taste. 
The Indian names are generally very agreeable, and it is much to 
be lamented that more of them have not been preserved ; perhaps 
it is not too late to restore some of the beautiful Indian names." 

The committee are sure that the Indian name attached to this 
part of the town will always be cherished and perpetuated by 
those who know its history; — they therefore recommend that the 
name so long associated with the locality be legally applied to the 
street, and that the street extending from Dedham street across 
Green Lodge street to Milton line be called 

Packeen Street. 
Blue Hill Street. 

On September 23, 1726, this road was laid out two rods 
wide under the "western side of the Great Blue Hill, until it comes 
to Milton line, and meets with that way in Milton that lieth on 
the southerly side of the Great Blue Hill." It was described by 
the committee of 1S40 as running " from the house of John Dav- 
enport by the Puller place." It was at one time described as run- 
ning from " Royall's Corner" by "Puller's" to Milton. This 
street skirts the southern base of the Great Blue Hill until it reaches 
the Milton line. 'J'he committee of 1840 called this Blue Hill 
street, and your committee deem this name eminently appropriate 
and recommend that it retain its present title. 

Blue Hill Street. 



13 
Bolivar Street. 

This street was not opened as a thoronghfare nntil 1792. 
It is described by the committee of 1S40 as running " from Wash- 
ington street by the Bolivar factory to John Gay's." It took its 
name from the Bolivar Works, which stood on the spot now occu- 
pied by the " Shovel Works." These, in turn, took their name 
from Bolivar, the Liberator of South America and President of 
Colombia. 

It is an uncommon name, has no disagreeable sound, has histor- 
ical recollections connected with it, and the committee recommend 
no change in the name of 

Bolivar Street. 

Cedar Street. 

It is impossible to reach this street without going out of 
Canton, it mereh' cuts across our boundaries, and the names given 
to it by Randolph and Stoughton have been associated with streets 
in Canton. 

Described by the committee of 1S40 as running " from Blue 
Hill turnpike to James Tucker's ; " the committee consider this 
name as a second-hand name ; every town having a Cedar, Pine, 
Walnut, Chestnut or Elm street. It is an insignificant name. As 
this street lies near the Randolph line the committee have decided 
to give it the name which the Indians applied to the territory now 
known as Randolph, 

Qj'OCHEco Street. 

Dedham Street. 

This street is described by the committee of 1S40 as the 
" road leading from Nathaniel Sumner's corner to Dedham line at 
the bridge." In ancient times the southerly portion of this road 
was known as " Wheeler's Lane." During the eighteenth century 
the inhabitants of Stoughton who desired to go to Dedham with a 
vehicle, were obliged to go by the way of Paul's Bridge. In 1720 
a bridle path led to the river from near the residence of the late 
Adam Mcintosh, called " the way to Aspinwall's " where a ford 
existed near the " Iron Bridge ; " later a ferry was established, 
and travellers who desired to cross were obliged to call the boat- 
man. 



H 

In 1792 the subject of a road at the central, and narrowest part 
of the Fowl Meadows, nearest to the towns of Stoughton and Ded- 
ham was agitated. The "Long Ridge" on the Stoughton side 
opposite " Eaton's Shore " or " Purgatory " was deemed admirably 
adapted for a road, and in 1S03 this road over the meadows was 
laid out. As the name of this road indicates its destination, the 
committee would recommend no change in name 

Dedham Street. 
Chestnut Street. 

In 1733 this was the road " from y"" bridge by y*^^ old forge 
to Samuel Commins." In 1742 this road was a portion of that 
laid out " from y" country road near y'' Roebuck Tavern to y" forge 
of Ebenezer Jones & Co." 

This road was sometimes described as " the way leading by 
Joseph Hartwell's " and in 1756 Joseph Hartwell was allowed to 
put up gates " across the road leading from Everendon's mill." In 
1S40 it was known as the road '" from the Stone Factory by Thomas 
KoUock's to Sharon Line." The name is objectionable. Up to 
1S40 it was called on the map, " the VValpole road." This name 
ought to be retained as an intimation of its destination to travellers. 
The committee recommend that the name of this street be changed 

to its old name 

Wali'OLi: Road. 
Farms Street 

Is described in 1S40, as the road leading from Turnpike 
street to Randolph street. This street was probably named Farms 
because there is not a farm on it. 

The towns in our vicinity, are anxious to appropriate Indian 
names, to which they have not one half the right which we of 
Canton possess, for instance, the town of Norwood has named one 
of its principal streets " Ahawton or Nahatton " street, probably 
because Ahawton signed deeds of the land on which their town 
stands. But old Ahawton lived and died in Ponkipog. When a 
young man he set traps and caught the hogs of Blaxton, (1633) the 
first settler of Boston. In 165S when he deeds Nantasket, he styles 
himself as of" Puncepaug." But liis son, William Ahawton, was 
f:ir more distinguished, a man of great ' attainments for an Indian, 
one of the councillors of Scjuamaug, the Massachusetts chief; both 



15 
their names are signed to the deed of Boston in 1685. Hutchinson 
in his History of Massachusetts says, " Punkapog was the second 
town where the sachems of the blood, as they term the chief royal 
line, had their residence. I suppose the Indians of Naponset, be- 
fore this time had removed and were settled with those of Punka- 
pog beyond or about the Blue Hills, their chief ruler and teacher 
was Ahawton." He was stationed in 171 1 at Pecunit, he died 
July 21, 17175 ^^is son Amos was living at Ponkipog as late as 
1743 ; but in 1767 Thomas Pumham was the sole surviving heir. 
The committee belie\e Canton has a right to this name, and sug- 
gest that this street be called 

Ahawton Street. 
Green Street. 

When we go down Green street from Ponkipog we tread 
the very track the Indian trod when he went from his wigwam to 
the Neponset River to draw from it his supply of fish ; it was the 
Indian trail from Ponkipog to the river. In 1727 the part nearest 
Ponkipog was the "■ path that leadeth down to Elias Monks' house." 
(Shaller site.) In early days the only w^ay to reach Ponkipog from 
Capt. Shaller's present house with teams, was to pass through 
"Billings' Lane" on which the old Capt. John Tucker house stood 
until recently, and proceed in a semi-circle to a point south of the 
residence of George Putnam ; the road then continued on to- 
wards the Bemis farm, now occupied by Thomas Bailey Aldrich ; 
here it again divided, the eastern branch leading to Ponkipog, com- 
ing out near the house of Capt. William McKendry and the other 
coming out on what is now Washington street. 

In 1764 the dwellers in this vicinity petitioned the Selectmen to 
lay out a road from the house of Jonathan Kenney, where Mr. 
Coombs now lives, to the Country road near Thomas Crane's at 
Ponkipog, but the town deeming the price demanded for the land 
exorbitant refused to accept or approve the way, whereupon the 
petitioners appealed to the Court of General Sessions. It is prob- 
able that the appeal was successful ; the road was laid out and 
accepted a few years later. 

In 1799 it was called after the old tory of Ponkipog " Taylor's 
Lane," because the house he occupied was at its westerly termi- 
nation. It is still standing and known as the old Tory house. 



i6 

It was not until 1S40 that the portion of Green street which 
leads from Capt. William Shaller's to the Milton line was con- 
sidered as having any connection with this street. This portion 
is very much older ; when laid out by the selectmen of Dorchester 
in 1704 it was very accurately described as the " road about Little 
Blue Hill ;" even then a portion of it was described as going " on 
the side of the hill above the old way," one portion of it turned 
somewhat as Wood's Lane does now and came up to Royall's Cor- 
ner, opposite Blue Hill street, though the w^ay around Blue Hill 
was "somewhat further" than the way between Little and Great 
Blue Hill. Another road more advantageous to the public welfare, 
was laid out around little Blue Hill in 1714. The other road con- 
tinued on by Capt. Shaller's over Ponkipog brook across Pecunit 
street, through the new or east gate of the cemetery to Randolph 
road and connected with the "Taunton old way" near Pequit brook, 
now Reservoir pond. 

In 173S it was described as running from "Milton to the creek 
near Jonathan Kenney's." In 1S30 it shared with that highway 
the oblocjuy of" Back street," but in 1S40 the committee describe 
Green street as " running from Strobridge's place to Milton by 
Michael Shaller's." 

The name Green street is not an appropriate one, it is the name 
of a color, not given in honor of any distinguished townsman named 
Green. This street is no more green than any other country road. 
The committee recommend that from Washington street at Ponki- 
pog to the Dedham line at Green Lodge, (where it would connect 
in Dedham with the street known as Green Lodge street,) this 
street be called Green Lodge street, the part from Mr. Coombs' 
house to the bridge having been laid out in 1853 and never having 
been named by the town. Green Lodge is not a fancy name, as 
many suppose, but has been applied to the part of Dedham toward 
which this street runs for one hundred and fifty years. The com- 
mittee recommend that this street be called 

Grken Lotx;k Strekt. 

High Street. 

This road is very ancient, it was part of the road laid down 
on the map of 1698 as leading to Billings' ; beyond there, it was tlie 



^7 

road to Providence. In later days sometimes called the " road to 
Mashapog." In 1S40 described as the "road from near Silas Kins- 
ley's to Sharon line by Widow Thomas Billings." It is not a mis- 
nomer to call it High, but as on the map of 1830 it is called " the 
road to Sharon " and as it is the nearest way to Sharon which can 
be indicated by a Canton guidepost, it would add much to the 
convenience of travellers to have it so called, and the committee 
recommend that its^name be changed to 

Sharon Street. 

Neponset Street. 

This street was laid out in 1827 "from the public road near 
the school house, northerly of Stone Factory, across Neponset river to 
meet the end of the road in Dedham near Enoch Talbot's." In 1840 
it is described as running from school house No. 6, over the meadow 
to Dedham line. This road was built to shorten the distance from 
the Stone Factory to Boston, in order to accomodate the large in- 
crease in business that was anticipated from the erection of the 
Stone Mill in 1S24. In adopting the principle that all streets 
leading into other towns should bear the name of the town to 
which they lead, your committee would recommend, that the street 
beginning near Fuller's store passing under the Viaduct, by the 
Revere school house, to the bridge dividing us from Norwood, be 

called 

Norwood Street. 

Pecunit Street 

Took the place of two roads, which can be traced even now 
through the woods ; the one ran from "Packeen road" near Henry 
Bailey's and nearly opposite his barn, the other not much used, 
was near the house of Enos Crane. These two I'oads were dis- 
continued and have given place to the present Pecunit street. In 
1799 it was known as the road by Benjamin Lewis'. In 1814 as the 
road from Henry Bailey's to Jabez Cobb's. In the name of this 
street we have the beautiful and the historic combined ; men may 
die and their names die with them, but the name of a street may 
live for a thousand 3'ears. All honor to the committee of 1840 
who have preserved to us in this street, the name the Indian called 
the territorv through which it winds its picturesque way. 



iS 

"What a pitv," exclaims T. Starr King, •' that the hills of New 
Hampshire could not have kept the names which the Indian tribes 
gave them. Webster, Clay, and Pleasant, what a wretched jumble. 
These are what we have taken in exchange for such Indian words 
as Ammonoosuc, Moosehillock, Contoocook, Pentucket." Horace 
Binney, one of the most eminent lawyers of America, relates that 
" returning to West Cambridge after an absence of many years, 
he could find no man, woman or child who had ever heard the 
name of Menotomy Pond, which he, as a boy, had spoken and 
heard a hundred thousand times," and he says, " say to them that 
they do wrong to change the names of their towns and villages, 
the Indian names are beautiful and ought to be preserved." The 
committee recommend that this street continue to be known as 

Pecunit Street. 

Pine Street. 

This street was described in 1840 as running from "Bethuel 
Morse's corner, by John Belcher's to Stoughton line." The name 
"Pine street," may be designated as a second-hand name ; it has no 
particular reference to this street, there are no more pines on this 
street than on some others in our town. 

1'his street crosses a brook, called in old times (1705) fi'om the 
abundance of beavers inhabiting its vicinity, a portion of a dam 
built bv them being still in existence, " Beaver Brook ;" the com- 
mittee recommend that this street perpetuate the name of this 
brook, and that it be called 

Beaver Brook. Street. 

Peeasant Street. 

In very early days a cart-path, marked by l)lazed trees, me- 
andered alternately on both sides of this present street. It was 
known as the "Taunton Old Way," and was used to bring timber 
and shingles from the swamps in Stoughton, to the Landing place 
at Milton. It ap]:)ears on Butcher's map of 1698, but may have 
been added later. This is undoubtedly the road described b}^ Judge 
Sewall in his diary, when under date of September 24, 1709, he 
writes that he leaves " Morey's at Ponkapog and goes over the new 
road ; " he rides over fourteen miles without seeing a house. This 
carlv vvav, we believe, led to Stoughton tlu'ough " Pine street." 



19 

In 1719-20,* a road was laid out from "The road leading to 
Billings' (Washington street,) at Canton Corner, to Stoughton," 
and was called " The Road to Dorchester Swamp." The route 
of this road appears to have followed in Canton the old road, and 
to run about as Pleasant street now does, but in 1723 a new roatl 
was laid out, or a portion of the old relaid from the northerly 
end of the dam still standing on Pequit brook, then .called Hart- 
well's dam, on the east side of the old fence that stood between 
the land of John Wentworth and Jabez Searle. 

In 179S it was the road leading to " Withington's Corner," 
sometimes ''May's Corner." From its tortuous and irregular wind- 
ings, and shabby, desolate houses, it acquired, a half century ago, 
the nickname of Ragged Row. The map of 1S30 gives it an honor- 
able name, "The Stoughton Road," and this name ought to have 
been preserved. It would seem best, even now, that the name 
" Pleasant street" should give wav to utility in order to carry out 
the plan, that roads which conduct from our town to an adjoining- 
town, shoidd bear the name of the town at which they terminate. 

Aside from the implied information, which the traveller receives 
from 'the name Stoughton street, it would also remind us of the 
old days when our fore-fathers sought to honor Lieut. Governor 
William Stoughton, acting Governor until the arrival of the Earl 
of Bellomont, by naming this town in his honor, a worthy name, 
for which our present one is a poor substitute. The committee 
recommend that the street now known as Pleasant street, running 
from Canton Corner to Stoughton, be called 

Stoughton Street. 

Rail Road Street, 

Described in 1S40 as the street " leading from Neponset 
Bank by Elisha White's to near Joseph Downes'." In 1790 the 
southerly portion was " y'' road from y'' school house, on Taunton 
road, to y" old forge," it was sometimes called " Billings' Lane." 
(1S12.) This street as now named, twice touches Washington 
street, and the corner of Washington and Rail Road streets is hard 
to define, for instance, the county commissioners say that in 1875 
Washington street was widened and straightened from the avenue 
* See Appendix A. 



20 

near Charles H. French's, to Rail Road street. This is true, but 
a person who has never actually seen the street, would not know 
whether the widening was on the north or south of French's avenue. 

The committee propose to obviate this difficulty, by merging 
that part passing from Fuller's store under the viaduct to the Revere 
school house, with Neponset street, making a straight line to the 
bridge over the river. 

The committee also recommend, that the remaining portion of 
Rail Road street running from Revere school house over the rail 
road bridge to the corner near the factory of Robert Draper, an- 
ciently known as the road leading " from Capt. John Vose's to the 
Iron Works," (1725) or the way leading to the " First Iron Works" 
sometimes known as *■' Dunbar's Lane," be called in honor of the 

river which flows parallel to it, 

Neponset Street. 

Randolph Street. 

How early the easterly part of this road was used, it is im- 
possible to ascertain. In 1 764 it runs from "Fenno's causeway to the 
country road near y'' old school house,'' and at this time mention 
is made of" y'' old trodden way." 

There was a very early period in the history of our town, when 
the wild animals gave their names to the natural scenery ; thus 
we find Moose Hill, Beaver Brook, Rattle Snake Plain, Rattle 
Snake Hill. The westerly part of this street beyond Farms street 
was the road leading to Bear Swamp. A later period of time, and 
the immigration from England changed all this, around us appear 
names that were familiar to our ancestors in the old home across 
the water, Dorchester, Braintree, Stoughton, Milton, Dedham and 
Randolph appear ; as this road was the most direct road to Ran- 
dolph it received that name, very appropriately ; the committee 
see no reason to change it. 

Raxdoeph Road. 

.Soi'Tii Street. 

This street, from the first settlement of the town, has always 
been known as Indian Lane. The Indians remained here long 
after their land had been taken from them in other parts of the 
town'; here was situated the last acre they ever owned, antl near 



21 

here is an Indian graveyard, where lie the remains of a race, that 
has nearly vanished from among us. Every one in town knows this 
street as " Indian Lane ; " the committee would recommend that 
the ancient name be resumed, and that it be called by its original 
name, 

Indian Lane. 
Spring Lane 

Was laid out in 1791 and leads from Rail Road street to 
the Dunbar Farm, and was known formerly as "Fisher's Lane." 
The committee do not desire to change this name. 

Spring Lane. 
Turnpike Street. 

This street follows from Ponkipog to Farms street, the old 
way which led in 1690 to Bear swamp. It was a part of the way 
from the north part of the town to Randolph, until it was incor- 
porated as the Stoughton Turnpike, June 23, 1806 ; it was laid out 
from John Tucker's through Stoughton to Easton. In June 1S40, 
it was laid out as a public highway, and in 1S56 relocated. As 
the name of this street recalls the days when gates or bars armed 
with pikes, were thrown across the road to stop travellers while, 
the tolls were being collected, and also as a reminder of the great 
revolution in public travel brought about by turnpikes, second only 
to that by railroads, the committee do not projDOse to change the 

name of this street, 

Turnpike Street. 

Washington Street. 

This is our most ancient road, — " the king's highway ;" how 
early it ran through our town, it is impossible to say ; without doubt 
as early as the middle of the seventeenth century ; it was first a 
bridle path, then a cart path. It was laid out by the selectmen of 
Dorchester in 1700,* three rods wide, following mainly the existing 
highway; it was again relaid in 1J12. In 1703 it was called the 
road leading to Billings' in Sharon. In 1707 the road leading to 
Rehoboth. During the last century it was often called the Coun- 
try road, or the main road leading to Rhode Island, Fufier bounds 
on it even earlier, (1696). The southern portion of it, in 17 10, the 
road to Dry Pond or the old Bay road. In i7<:i3 " the Taunton 

* See Ajipenclix B. 



22 

road." In 1 785 " the great road from Boston to Taunton." In 
1799 "the Main road." In 1800 " the Great road." Again in 
1830 "the Taunton road." In 1840 the town named the main 
street from Milton to Sharon line, and which the committee do 
not propose to change, 

Washington Street. 

West Street. 

" From Pine street to Dudley Bailey's ; " this street comes 
under condemnation from the fact that all names that are common, 
are bad. The name hardly defines the geographical position of 
the street, for it was seriously proposed to give this name to Back 
street in 1880, situated in an entirely different part of the town. 
It crosses an ancient brook, the name of which is unknown except 
to a few old residents; the committee to preserv'e the name of this 
brook, would recommend that the Frog Island road, extending 
from Pine street to Mrs. Laura Shepard's, be called 

Steep Brook Street. 

Wood Lane. 

This street runs through land which in 1703 was owned by 
Isaac Royall. In 1840 it was designated " as running from John 
Davenport's to Ebenezer Crane's." It was not named on account 
of the abundance of wood through which it passed, but from a man 
named Edward Wood, who at one time lived near it on " Doty's 
Plain," and who never attained sufficient celebrity to have a street 
named in his honor. The committee propose to give a name to this 
street, which lias been connected with the territory through which 
it runs, for nearlv two centuries. In 1700 there stood at the cor- 
ner of this street, a house, the upper story of which projected over 
the lower, in the style of architecture known as the " King Philip," 
for protection against the attacks of Indians ; here lived Isaac 
Royall, Es([., the owner of the adjacent land, extending southerly 
to Cherry Hill. He was the most prominent man of the town in 
his day. He was one of the original founders of the First Works 
for smelting iron ore in Canton, — a Justice of the Peace, (1734,) 
— the owner of the best pew in tlie meeting house, (i747 ' ) '^'^"^ 
here he lived with his slaves, in the old colonial style until 1758, 
when he ceases to be taxed. In 1763 this road is described as the 



road "leading by Deacon Silas Crane's through Dr. John Sprague's 
and Isaac Royall's, by the house of said Royall, to the country 
road." 

The Committee recommend that as Royall was early identified 
with the history of the Dorchester South Precinct, being one of 
the first settlers, that the name of this street be changed to 

RcsALL Street. 
York Street. 

A road, of which this is now a part, led through East 
Stoughton from York, at a very early period in our history, (1664) 
and was known as Pigwackett. 

An ancient map in the possession of Mr. Jesse Fenno, dated 
1742, calls this street " the road to York ; " it ran in 1S40 " from 
Lemuel Tucker's to the Stoughton Line." 

This name, the Committee deem particularly appropriate. 

When some of our first settlers fled from the hostile attacks of the 

Indians in the Province of Maine, they called the portion of this 

town near which they settled, "York," in honor of their old 

home, and from that day to this, the name has been retained ; 

let us still hold on to it, for it connects us with an event in histor}', 

touching and terrible in its details, in which some of our ancestors 

were participants. We therefore recommend retaining its present 

name, 

York Street. 

So much for the streets named in 1S40; since then our town 
has grown, new streets have been laid out ; and if in old times 
names were bestowed by accident, it behooves us to see that it 
shall be so no more, but that the names given to the new streets 
shall commemorate events or persons connected with the history 
of our ancient town ; names that will, in due time, become his- 
toric. We begin again in alphabetical order. 

Badeam Street. 

This street is a private way leading from Washington street 
between the houses of Samuel H. Capen and Dr. A. R. Holmes. 



24 

Ezra Badlam was born on what is now the town farm, he en- 
tered the army at the breaking out of the Revokition, received his 
commission of Captain in i775 ! the next year he was at Trenton 
and Princeton. In 1 777 at Albany, and was engaged at the battle of 
Stillwater. On the 3rd of February 17S0, he was captured by the 
British under Col. Norton at White Plains. He served through- 
out the Revolution and Shays's rebellion, and was at the close of 
the former, made a Brigadier General. 

We recommend that in consequence of his distinguished services 

this street be called 

Badlam Street. 

Beaumont Street. 

This street leads from Rail Road street near Chapman's 
watering trough, to the Canton Junction station, running parallel 
to the Providence Rail Road. 

At the opening of the present century, James Beaumont engaged 
in the manufacture of cotton cloth in Canton ; as he was a pioneer 
in an industry which has added to our prosperity as a town, and 
as it is stated that Mr. Beaumont, in connection with the Boston 
and Providence Rail Road Corporation, gave all the land for this 
street, the committee would recommend that this street be called 

Beaumont Street. 
Crane Street. 

This street leads from Mechanics Court to Bolivar street. 
The committee recommend that this street be named in honor of 

Major Gen. Elijah Crane, 

Crane Street. 

Dan'korth Street. 

This street leads from the jimction of Rail Road and Church 
streets, so called, toward Mashapog brook, about midway between 
the Kinslev Iron and Machine Company and the Revere Copper 
Works. 

The hrst corn mill was established in Canton on the site of the 
Revere Copper Works, in 1717? ^^y two young men, named Dan- 
forth, from Dorcliester, and a road for their benefit was laid out 
from their mill to Washington street, on the southerh' side of 
Mashapog Brook ; the present street probably crosses this old 
road, and it is the nearest street to the old grist mill. 



^5 
The Committee recommend that the enterprise and perseverance 
of these two men be perpetuated by giving to this street the title of 

Danfortii Street. 
John Dowxes Street. 

This street is now a private way leading from Washington 
street nearly opposite the High School and running toward Pleasant 
street. John Downes was born in this town, Dec. 23, 17S4; at 
the age of fourteen he became assistant to his father on board the 
frigate Constitution ; he rose to be Commodore in the United 
States' Navy. At one time he stormed and destroyed the forts at 
Qiiallah Batoo, landed his men and obliged the Malays to sue for 
peace, in the very place where, a short time before, an English 
squadron had been ignominiously defeated, their ships utterly dis- 
abled, and all their crews killed in the shore attack. For thirty- 
years he followed the sea, and when on the nth of August 1854, 
he died, the public press with one accord said, that there was " no 
one who in life could more justly lay claim to the character of a 
gallant officer and an ujDr.ight man." 

The Committee recommend that this street be called 

John Downes Street. 
DuNRAR Street. 

This street leads from Washington street south of the Grid- 
ley graveyard. It runs through land owned by three generations 
of Dunbar's. Rev. Mr. Dunbar, the second minister of this town, 
was a very noted man in his day. The historian, Bancroft, says 
of him, in speaking of the famous meeting at the "Doty Tavern," 
August 16, 1774, "As the aged Samuel Dunbar breathed forth 
among them his prayer for liberty, the venerable man seemed in- 
spired with the most divine and prophetical enthusiasm." 

It would seem appropriate to name this street 

Dunbar Street. 
John Eliot Street. 

The stieet running from Washington to Rail Road street, 
by the Baptist Meeting House, and the Old Armory, was laid out 
in 1S33, the first house built on it in 1S34 ; it was accepted by the 
town in 1S43. When first laid out it was called •' Grab Alley ; " 



26 

later the name Church street was applied to it, but with no au- 
thority. 

Rev. James Freeman Clarke, in his pamphlet previously alluded 
to, recommends that the city of Boston name one of its streets 
after John Eliot, first missionary to the Indians. Within our 
boundaries was situated the Second Praying Town of the Apostle 
Eliot, (1655-1690,) where it was his custom, and that of his son, 
to preach. The greater part of the land on which our town stands 
was granted by the inhabitants of Dorchester to the Indians, at 
the request of John Eliot. 

The Committee recommend that this street be called 

John Eliot Street. 
Endicott Street. 

The street opposite Morse's watering trough, leading from 
Washington street west, between land of Allen and Byam, is des- 
ignated on Bent's map as Endicott street. As Gilbert Endicott 
was one of the first settlers of Canton, (1700,) and this property 
was long held by his heirs, and as his descendants have been 
prominent in town. County, and State, we deem it appropriate 

that this street should receive the name of 

Endicott Street. 
Richard Gridlev Street. 

This street runs from Washington street, a little north of 
the Factory of the American Net and Twine Company, to near 
the old road leading over Frog Island. It has a sign upon it des- 
ignating it as " Cross street," but it has never been legally 
named. From its nearness to the site of the homestead, the mill, 
and the former grave of our most distinguished townsman, a vet- 
eran of three wars, the hero of Louisburg and Bunker Hill, the 
Committee recommend that this street be called 

Richard Gridley Street. 
Hartwell Street. 

This street runs at right angles to Spring Hill street, at the 

top of the hill, crossing the Boston and Providence Railroad, at 

grade ; it is intended to connect with a street (called) Grand, on 

the farm owned in former days by an early settler and prominent 

citizen of this town, named Joseph Hartwell. Tlie Committee 

recommend that this street be called 

Har rwKi.i, Street.' 



27 
KlTCHAMAKIN StrEET. 

The changing of the name of Green street leaves a short 
street running over a portion of the present Green street unnamed. 
There are no houses on the street, but the Committee would like 
to perpetuate the name of the first sachem of the Neponset In- 
dians, in whose wigwam Eliot preached, and recommend that 
this street be called 

KiTCHAMAKIN StREET. 

Lyman Kinsley Street. 

The street known as Mechanics Court, sometimes Page 
street, sometimes Grand street, running from Washington street, 
near the Universalist church, has never been legally named. As 
Lyman Kinsley did as much to increase the manufacturing interests 
of Canton, as any man that ever lived in it, and as he was a man 
of public spirit, ever ready to assist in beautifying the town, the 
Committee recommend that this street be named in his honor, 

Lyman Kinsley Street. 
Mashapog Street. 

This street leads from the street now known as Walnut 
street, toward the old Messinger house ; it has sometimes been 
called a continuation of Walnut street, but as it runs at right 
angles to that street, it is hardly appropriate to designate it as part 
of one and the same street. 

As this street runs all its length parallel to a portion of Mash- 
apog Brook, your Committee desire to save the Indian name, and 
would recommend that the name of this street be 

Mashapog Street. 
Father Mathew Street. 

This is a private way between the land of Allen and Morse, 
leading west from Washington street. 

When the great Irish Apostle of total abstinence visited Canton, 
on the 30th of August, 1849, he spoke in a grove near the terminus 
of this street, and probably passed over this very ground. A pub- 
lic drinking fountain, scripturally inscribed, erected by one of our 
public spirited citizens, marks the north-eastern boundary of this 
street, and gives an excellent opportunity to those who wish to fol- 
low in the precepts, as well as in the footsteps of the great total 
abstinence advocate. The Committee would recommend that this 
street be called Father Mathkw Street. 



28 

Norfolk Street. 

This street leads from Rail Road street, in a southerly direc- 
tion, and is intended eventually to intersect High street. It has 
been known as "Spring Hill" street, and often confounded with 
Spring Lane. The Committee recommend that in honor of our 
county it be called 

Norfolk Street. 

Pequit Street. 

This is a private way nearly opposite Father Mathew street ; 

if extended, it will eventually cross Pequit Brook, a name given 

by the Indians to the brook which flows into Forge Pond from 

the north. The Committee therefore recommend that this way 

be called 

Pequit Street. 

Paul Revere Street. 

The street beginning on Washington street, opposite the 
house of Albion Kinsley, and running toward land now owned by 
Edwin Wentworth, has commonly been called Walnut street, but 
not legally named. 

As Paul Revere, one of the foremost patriots of the Revolution, 
came to Canton in iSoi, and here established a business which 
has been continued in our town ever since, the Committee recom- 
mend that this street be called 

Paul Revere Street. 

Sassamon Street. 

This street leads from Washington street to the old turnpike 
opposite the house of the late Alexander Fisher at Ponkipog. 
This street is named for an Indian -who was born at Ponkipog, 
and whose life was most eventful and romantic. He became a 
convert to Christianity in 1662, was educated, and at one time 
taught school at Natick, assisting Eliot in translating the bible into 
the Indian tongue, who speaks of him as a man of eminent 
parts. He witnessed, in 1670, the deed dividing the domains of 
King Philip, and Squamaug the Massachusetts chief. He was 
at one time secretary to King Philip, and was supposed to have 
revealed his plans to the English. Not long after, on the 29th 
of January, 1675, he was found dead on the borders of a pond in 



29 

Middleborougli, called Assawomset, with marks of violence upon 
his person ; his death was the occasion of King Philip's war. As 
he was born in Ponkipog, this street should be called 

Sassamon Street. 
Roger Sherman Street. 

About the year 1856 a street was laid out from Wash- 
ington street to Canton Junction, over the meadow of Oliver 
Deane and the late James Beaumont; this station was, when first 
erected, called the Depot ; from it this street soon received the name 
of Depot street, a horrid French word, with two accents. American- 
ized but not Anglicised, pronounced in many ways, seldom cor- 
rectly. Its original meaning was not applicable to a local passenger 
station. This street was extended in 1S69 so that it now reaches 
from Rail Road to Pleasant street. A portion of this road traverses 
the farm now owned by the town, which was at one time owned by 
Roger Sherman, one of the signers of the Declaration of Indepen- 
dence. Here he spent his boyhood and early manhood, (1733- 
1743.) If we cannot afford to erect a statue to so distinguished 
a townsman, we can preserve, in this street, without expense, 
the memory of this great and good man. 

Although the name is longer than has been our habit to use, 
yet, in a short time, we shall become accustomed to it, and it will 
appear natiu-al to us. Sherman street alone, might convey a very 
different, or perhaps no correct impression. 

The Committee would recommend that the street from Rail 
Road to Pleasant be named 

Roger Sherman Street. 

St. John's Street. 

This street, running between land of Bent and French, has 
sometimes been called '• Chapel " street ; the first Catholic church 
in Canton, — named St. Jolm's Church, — which has now disap- 
peared, formerly stood on this street. Your committee would per- 
petuate the fact of its existence by naming this street 

St. John's Street. 

John Wentworth Street. 

This street runs from Washington street opposite Went- 



worth's Hall, and has been commonly known as Rockland Avenue. 
The committee object to the word Avenue, as not being in keep- 
ing with the width or length of this street ; in no respect is this 
street any more of an avenue than Washington street. One of the 
first settlers of this town (1704) was John VVentworth, who was 
driven from his home in Maine through fear of the Indians ; his 
descendants have been prominent men in the history of Canton from 
that day to this. Your Committee would recommend that this 
streeet be called 

John Wentworth Street. 

All of which Is respedfiillv sub)iiittcd. 

1 DANIEL T. V. HUNTOON, 
^ ! SAMUEL B. NOYES, 

Committee, } edVVARD R. EAGER, 

J ELIJAH A. MORSE. 



Under Article 5th of the Warrant for Town Meeting, April 4, 1S81 : 
Voted, — That the report of the Committee on Town Seal be printed 

with the report of the Committee on Streets, in size suitable for binding 

with the annual reports of the School Committee. 

Attest, WALTER AMES, 

Town Clerk. 



31 



APPENDIX A. 



"At a meeting of the selectmen in Dorchester, it was agreed 
that there should be a highway three rods broad from the road 
through the South Precinct to Billings', along to Dorchester Swamp ; 
Beginning at said Dorchester Swamp at the brook on the east side 
of said swamp as the way now goeth downward over the plain to 
the brow of a hill, on the edge of the plain we made a small 
heap of stones ; the second mark, a little black oak bush ; third, a 
white oak tree ; fourth, a white oak tree ; fifth, a black oak tree ; 
sixth, a black oak tree ; seventh, a rock with stones upon it ; eighth, 
a white oak tree ; ninth, a red oak tree in Jonathan Jordan's land ; 
tenth, a white oak tree ; eleventh, a poplar tree ; twelfth, a little 
black oak tree ; thirteenth, not set down ; fourteenth, on a ridge we 
marked a chestnut tree, as the way is to go ; fifteenth, a white oak 
tree ; sixteenth, a great chestnut tree, by the brook ; seventeenth, a 
chestnut tree ; eighteenth, a white oak tree, and there it cometh into 
the road again ; nineteenth, a white oak tree ; twentieth, a white 
oak tree ; all these marks or bounds are on the south side of the 
way ; twenty-first, on the plain we marked a pine tree, on the east 
side of the way, and so as the way goeth over the plain ; twenty- 
second, a heap of stones, and then turn to the right hand nearer to 
the swamp ; twenty-third, a white oak tree ; twenty-fourth, a white 
oak tree ; twenty-fifth, a white oak tree ; twenty-sixth, a white oak 
tree ; twenty-seventh, a white oak tree ; twenty-eighth, a white oak 
tree ; twenty-ninth, by (Edward) Bayley's gate, a small white oak 
tree ; all these marks from the twenty-second are on the west side 
of the way ; thirtieth, a black oak tree in Bayley's ground, a little 
below his barn, and so along the way as it now goeth and is 
occupied until it comes up to the road first mentioned. 

Robert Spur, Thomas Tileston, Samuel Paul, Ebenezer Mosely, 
Ebenezer Billings. 

Dorchester, March ist, 1719-20." 



APPENDIX B. 



"[1700.] 

We, whose names are underwritten, being chosen by the 
inhabitants of the town of Dorchester, to lav out the highway be- 
tween Milton line and Mr. Billings, his house, have done as fol- 
loweth : — We began at Milton line and so marked the way as 
followeth. In John Davenport's land we marked a little white 
oak tree on the west side of the way, next on the top of the hill a 
black oak tree ; the next we marked a white oak tree called the 
brace oak on the west side of the way, marked with an X ; in the 
common land, a red oak tree on the west side of the way ; next a 
gray oak tree on the west side of the way ; next a rock with a 
heap of stones on the west side of the way ; next at the north-east 
corner of Ephraim Newton's land, (near Henry Willard's land) 
a heap of stones on the west side of the way ; next a little white 
oak tree on the west side of the way ; next a gray oak on the west 
side of the way ; next a gray oak, again, on the west side of the 
way ; next a black oak on the west side of the way ; next a 
black oak again on the west side of the way ; next a heap of 
stones laid on the west side of the way ; next at Isaac Royall's 
land, near his house, (northern corner of Wood's lane,) a black 
oak tree marked on the west side of the way. This way lieth 
between the Great Blue Hill and the little one ; next a little wal- 
nut tree marked on the south-east corner of Isaac Royall's land 
on the west side of the way ; next a. gray oak tree against Mr. 
Salter's door, (13th mile stone,) on the west side of the way; 
next a white oak tree on the south-east corner of Samuel Paul, his 
land, on the west side of the way ; next at a brook called Mar- 
tin's Delight, (Ponkipog Brook,) a heap of stones and a rock on 
the west side of tiic way ; next at the Ridge Hill we left one rod on 
the south side of a great white oak. marked with two marks, and 
one rod on the west side of it ; next at the rising ol" tlie steep hill 
at Pccunet, we marked a while oai< liee at the west side of the 



33 
way, the way runs on the east side of Mr. Endicott's house ; next 
we marked a bhick oak tree on the west side of the way, and 
another bhick oak tree on the east side of the way, — these two 
trees are between Endicott's house and the saw-mill, (first in 
Canton ; ) next by the plain on the west side of Mr. Leadbetter's , 
we marked a white oak tree on the west side of the way ; on the 
low ground between '' Runnel's Misery," (Sharon Knife Works,) 
and the plain we marked a great white oak tree, and so on to 
Mr. Billings' house." 

This house was a famous tavern ; the deed to Roger Billings of 
the land lying about '* Wainman's Ordinary '" (165S) was ordered 
to be signed in 1678. Here Billings erected a tavern, the site of 
which was ascertained by the Canton Historical Society, in their 
Fast Day walk of 1S80. It is mentioned in Judge Sewall's Diary 
under date of 1690; and Madam Knight, in 1704 says, ""In about 
an hour or something more, we came to Billings', where I was to 
lodg ; * * * * she conducted me to a parlour in a little back 
Lento, which was almost filled with the bedstead, which was so 
high that I was forced to climb on a chair to gitt up to y*" wretched 
bed that lay on it." 



APPENDIX C. 



Highways in Canton, from Norfolk County Commissioners' 
Records. 

"April, 1803. Book I, page 147. Dedliam Street, from Canton 
across Neponset River to John Eaton's, Purgatory, Dedham. 

April, iSoS. 1-193. Stougiiton Turnpike ; located Turnpike 
Street. 

April, 1S07. 1-1S3. Taunton and South Boston Turnpike 
located. 

April, i'S33. 3-162. Washington Street, (Taunton Road) 
near Adam Kinsley's liouse, straightened, &c., and new piece 
located over land of Kinsley and Crane, and stone bridge wi- 
dened. 

Sept. 1831. 3-19S. Washington Street, from old road to 
Boston, at foot of Pine Woods Hill to old road; again, near Su- 
san Fisher's house, laid out ; also, old road widened, &c., near 
Ridge Hill, &c. 

Sept. 1835. 3-260. Plan 48. From town road, near Eunice 
Wild's house, Randolph, across land of Wild, Curtis, an<] Tucker, 
by old bridle or cartway, to Taunton and South Boston Turnpike, 
Canton ; laid out. (Annexed to vStoughton in 1847.) 

Sept. 1836. 4-18. Plan 62. Washington Street, (Taunton 
Road) widened and straightened in land of Copeland and Went- 
worth. 

Sept. 1837. 4-88. Plan 12 and 72. Neponset Street. From 
public road near school house, northerly of Stone Factory, across 
Neponset river to meet end of road in Dedham, near Enoch Tal- 
bot's. 

June, 18^0 4-305. Plan 100. vStoughton Turnpike laid out 
as a public highway. 

June, 1S54. 6-145. Phm 198. Taunton and South Boston 
Tuinpike laid out as a public highwav. 



35 

Sept. 1S52. 6-323. Plan 218. Green Lodge Street. From 
Green Lodge Street, Dedham, across Meadows, Boston and Prov- 
idence Rail Road, and Neponset River and Brook to Green 
Street, Canton. 

Dec. 1S56. 7-486. Plan 259. Stoughton Branch Turnpike, 
(Turnpike Street,) re-located. 

Aug. 1S69. 10-133. Plan 404. Depot Street. From Wash- 
ington Street op^DOsite Depot Street, through land of Dunbar, 
town of Canton, and opened to Pleasant Street. 

Oct. 1S73. 11-179. Plan 467. Green Street. From Green 
Lodge Street to Washington Street, re-located, &c. and parts dis- 
continued. 

Oct. 1874. 11-272. Plan 478. Green street straightened and 
location changed at land of Shaller and Cabot. 

June, 187V ii~365. Plan 496. Washington Street re- 
located, w'idened and straightened at Kinsley Lou and Machine 
Works. 

Nov. 1S7V ii~3S9- Plan 496. Washington Street widened, 
straightened, &c., from avenue near Charles H. French's to Rail 
Road Street." 

1876. Green Street re-located. 

1S79. Washington Street, between the store of E. O. & H. 
Fuller and the house of William Mansfield, re-located. 



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